Transit Link Facts

Dial-a-ride transit serves the Twin Cities

Transit Link, a service of the Metropolitan Council, is shared dial-a-ride small bus service for the public. Service is available on weekdays throughout the seven-county metro region in areas not served by fixed-route transit, which includes buses and trains.

Transit Link provides curb-to-curb service, with limited assistance. Riders must reserve rides in advance, and reservations are subject to availability. Transit Link is different from Metro Mobility service (transportation for people with disabilities in the Twin Cities) in that it is available to the general public; riders are not subject to special eligibility requirements.

Transit Link coordinates with other transit service

Transit Link service is intended to augment the fixed-route transit system in the seven-county metro area. The Council's goal is to provide transit coverage throughout the region. As a result, Transit Link trips will connect riders with the regular transit system when possible. Transfers take place at major transit hubs, such as a transit center or park-and-ride facility, that are well-lit and served by frequent transit routes.

Customers certified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may ride Transit Link for trips outside of the ADA service area and connect with Metro Mobility service in those areas where fixed-route service is available. ADA-certified customers may receive door-to-door assistance from Transit Link drivers upon request.

Riding Transit Link is easy

Transit Link service is available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rides must be reserved in advance by calling 651-602-LINK (5465) between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Reservation staff are trained to determine whether trips are eligible for Transit Link and to recommend regular-route transit service if available. Transit Link and Metro Transit staff can guide customers through the process of riding regular-route service.

Rides are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it is important that riders who reserve rides cancel them when they don’t need them at least one hour prior to pick-up time. The Council has established region-wide policies governing reservations, cancellations, no-shows (when someone reserves a ride and doesn’t use it without canceling it), and standing orders (regularly scheduled trips).

Fares for Transit Link are based on the distance traveled. The base fare for rush-hour trips of up to 15 miles is $4.50 and for non-rush hour trips up to 15 miles is $3.50. Trips of more than 15 miles, regardless of time of day, will cost an additional $.75 cents.

Transit Link provides more than 25,000 rides monthly

The Transit Link system provided nearly 303,000 rides in 2016, a small but critical component of the 96.2 million transit rides provided regionwide in 2016.

The Transit Link fleet has 72 small buses, which can accommodate about a dozen riders at a time, as well as riders with wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Transit Link rides are shared rides, which means other passengers will be picked up and dropped off along the way.

Council administers funding and sets policy

Through a five-year contract, the Metropolitan Council is providing about $6 million to fund Transit Link service regionwide. The Council also sets regional transit policies that govern operational guidelines for the Transit Link system. The Council consults with the Transit Link Coordination Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from each county. The Council administers contracts for service in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties; two vendors provide service in these areas. Anoka, Carver, and Scott counties administer their own Transit Link service and contracts.